Washing machine



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F. D. BROWN.

WASHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV 22, 1920.

Patented Aug. 22, 1922.

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f-a Z 56 33 i 2 q 59 7 l I w I! Ll ll j I gnve'nfoz F. D BROWN.

,WASHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV-. 22. 1920.

1 A2106 1 Patented Aug. 22, 1922.

7SHEETS-SHEET 2.

F. D. BROWN.

WASHING MACHINE.

APPUCATION FILED NOV 22. 1920.

1 ,427,0 6 1 Patented Aug. 22, 1922.

I SHEETS- SHEET 3.

F. D. BROWN.

7 WASHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV 22. 1920.

in 9 92 1 [56 46 x 45 L151: 36 4 L2 57 Patented Aug. 22, 1922.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

F. D. BROWN.

WASHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV 22,1920.

AW d 5 e F. D. BROWN.

WASHING MACHINE.

APPLICAHON FILED NOV, 22, 1920.

F. D. BROWN.

WASHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV, 22. I920.

Patented Aug. 22., 1922.

7 SHEETSSHEET T- |l|ll|l llllllllllllll FRANK D. BROWN, OF BURKBURNET'I, TEXAS.

' WASHING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 22, 1922.

Application filed Hovember 22, 1920. Serial No. 425,785.

To all whom it may concern:

"Be it"known that I, FRANK D. BROWN,

. a citizen of the United States, residing at via Burkburnett, in the county of Wichita and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Washin Machines; and I do hereby declare the to lowing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention has relation to certain new and useful improvements in a Washing machine and has for its primary object the provision of a machine in which will be included reciprpcating and oscillating agitating means and novel operating mechanism for said means.

The invent-ion has for another object the provision of a washing machine of the character stated in which will be included pistons or plungers carried by an upper disc and working in depending tubes carried by a lower disc during operation of the machine to assist in agitating the water within the inner receptacle and the main outer tub.

The invention has for a further object the provision of a washing machine of the character stated in which will be included novel mechanism for reciprocating the upper disc and oscillating the same within the inner perforate receptacle and also causing the pistons or plungers to be operated durinr reciprocation and oscillation of the discs Fhe invention has for a still further object the provision of means for controlling the reciprocating and oscillatin means from a single operating shaft controfied by a motor or the like.

The invention has for a still further object the provision of a washing machine of the character stated in which means will be included for raising the longitudinally split tube and adjusting the same with respect to the central rod so as to regulate the distance between the upper and lower disc carried respectively by said longitudinally split tube and said central rod to vary the stroke of the disc and the longitudinally split rod as well as the pistons or plungers.

The invention has for still another object the provision of a washing machine of the character stated in which the machine will be composed of a comparatively small number of parts of improved simplified construction and operation so that the dirt e rtractor including the upper and lower discs and the pistons or plungers, will be operated sufiiciently to extract or remove the dirt from the clothes and other articles bein washed in the machine.

With the foregoing and other objects in view as will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of cooperating elements as hereinafter more specificall set forth, shown in the accompanying rawings and claimed.

In the drawings forming a part of the present application:

Figure 1 is an elevation of the complete machine.

Figure 2 is a plan view thereof.

Figure 3 is a vertical section through the complete machine.

Figure 4: is a transverse section on the plane of line 44 of Figure 3, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Figure 5 is a transverse sectional view on the plane of line 5-5 of Figure -3, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Figure 6 is a detail elevation, showing the cover thrown back on its hin es together with the parts mounted on sai cover.

Figure 7 is an enlarged detail sectional view through the connected sections of the central rod.

Figure 8 is a detail enlar ed sectional view taken substantially on t e line 8-8 of Figure 3.

Figure 9 is an enlarged detail horizontal section taken on the line 99 of Figure 10.

Figure 10 is an enlarged detail vertical sectional View of the construction shown in Fi ure 9.

igure 11 is a detail sectional view on the plane of line 1l-11 of Figure 3.

Figure 12 is a detail horizontal section on the plane of line 12-12 of Figure 3.

Figure 13 is a detail vertical section on the plane of line 13--13 of Figure 12.

Figure 14 is an enlarged detail erspective view of one of the wedge mem ers removed.

Referring more in detail to the drawings wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, designates the main or. outer tank which has supporting legs 11, carrying rollers 12 in the roller castings 13 mounted on the lower ends of said supporting legs 11. The upper portions of the supporting legs 11 are ofi'set inwardly and are secured vertically or longitudinally upon the outer face of the main or outer tank 10, by a suitable bracing hoop 14 extended around said tank 10. The upper portion 15 of the main tank is reduced in diameter and is formed with an inwardly curved portion 16 of the tank 10, as shown in the drawings. The tank 10 is provided with a bottom 17 increased in thickness at its central portion.

- This bottom 17 is also provided with a central opening 18 through which depends the central centering pin 19, projecting from the bottom 20 of the inner perforate receptacle 21. The inner perforate receptacle 21 is positioned in the main portion of the tanlr 10 and has its sides spaced from the sides of the tank, 10, owing to the fact that the perforate receptacle 21 has a diameter preferably less than the diameter of the reduced upper portion 15 of the tank 10. The upper edge 22 of the inner perforate receptacle 21 is curved inwardly at a point below the inwardly curved portion 16 of the tank 10, as will be readily seen by referring to Figure 3 of the drawings. lit will be seen that owing to this construction, the circulation of the.

water through the sides and bottom of the inner perforate receptacle 21 during operation or" the machine may be readily effected.

A motor supporting shelf 23 is preferably secured between the supporting legs 11 to support an electric motor 24 or the like for furnishing the motive power by which the operative parts of the washing machine, to be later clearly and fully described, may be operated. The shaft 25 of the motor 24 has a worm 26 mounted thereon which meshes with the worm wheel 27 carried on the lower end of the vertical driving shaft 28. Suitable bearings 29 are carried on the side of the tank 10 for the driving shaft 28 and this shaft 28 extends for some distance above the tank 10. A gear wheel 30 is mounted on the upper end of the vertical driving shaft 28 and meshes with the gear wheel 31 carried on the outer end of the horizontal shaft 32. This shaft 32 is mounted in suitable bearings 33 carried on the upper end of the supporting standards 34 mounted on a hinged cover 35 provided for the tank 10. The cover 35 is formed of a plurality of transparent sections 36 secured between the radial partition members 37 connecting the outer circularmember of the cover 38 with the small or inner central member 39 of. said cover 35. I prefer to employ four radial partition members 37, as shown in the drawmgs, two diametrically opposite partition members 37 being of increased length and connected with the inner or central member 39, while the remaining radial partition members 37 are of a shorter length and connected with the narrow ring 40 surrounding and spaced from the inner or central member 39, thereby providing a pair of arcuate slots l1, the purpose of which will presently appear. The member 39 has an annular groove 42 in its upper face to form one half of a runway for hearing balls 43, which also extend into an annular groove ie in the under face of an upper race way member or plate 45 positioned upon the inner central member 39 and having downwardly and inwardly turned fingers 46 loosely engaged around the corresponding edge of the member 39 and extend into the side grooves 39 of the latter so as to retain said plate iii-in proper position. The plate 4:5 forms the upper portion or upper housing of the bearing or runway and has an upstanding collar 4:? formed around its central opening which registers with the central opening of the member33. A pin 4:8 is passed through the collar .47 and through one of the plurality of openings in the upper section of the main or central rod 49 extending through the cover.

The main or central rod 49 has its upper section projecting for some distance above the cover 35 and also for some distance into the tank. The lower section 50 of the main rod is in alinement with the upper section all and projects into the hollow squared lower extremity 51 of the upper rod section 49. This extremity is of increased size and has an expansion spring 52 positioned therein. A piston or head 53 is carried on the upper extremity of the lower section 50, within the hollow lower extremit 51 of the upper rod section. 4.9 and the lower end of the expansion spring 52 bears upon said piston. or head 53, thereby resiliently retaining the rod section 50 in its lowermost position with respect to the upper rod section 49 and at the same time forming a resilient connec tion between said rod sections 19 and 50.

The lower disc 54 of the agitator mecha nism is threaded or otherwise mounted upon the lower extremity of the lower rod section 50 and carries a plurality of concentrically arranged depending tubes 55 arranged around and depending from the reduced walls 56 of the openings 57 in said lower disc 5%. The upper disc 58 of the agitator mechanism is spaced above the lower disc 54. and has a central opening 59 to acccmmodate the lower main rod section 50 so that the upper disc 58 of the agitator mechanism may be moved vertically freely upon the lower rod section 50. The concentrically arranged rods 60 depend from the upper disc 58 and project into the tubes 55. Suitable pistons or plungers 61 are mounted on the lower ends of the rods 60 and the lower washers 62 of said pistons or plungers 61 are preferably of a diameter slightly less than the interior diameter of the tubes 55. The operation or the agitator mechanism will presently be apparent.

As a part of the agitator mechanism, a longitudinally split tube 63 is employed and the main or nonsplit-portion of this tube surrounds and encloses the resiliently connected ends of the upper section 49 and lower section 50 of the main or central rod carryin the lower disc 54 of the agitator mechanism. The. lower extremity of the tube 63 is secured upon the central portion of the upper agitator disc 58, as shown at 64. The upper longitudinally split portion of the tube 63 extends through the arcuate slots 41 in the cover 35, the tube being split so as to provide only narrow spaced sections 63 at its upper portions so that the tube 63 may be readily oscillated horizontally, the separated or split portions travelling from end to end of the arcuate slots 41, as will be readily understood by referring to the drawings.

In order to oscillate and reciprocate the tube 63, I have provided an outer collar 65 and an inner collar 66 for cooperation with a pair of longitudinally tapered wedgemembers 67 adapted for engagement between the inner collar 66 and the split or separated portions 63 of the tube 63, the teeth 68 on the wed e members 67 biting into the inner faces 0 the separated or split portions 63 of the tube 63. The outer collar 65 carries a socket 69 on one side and within which is secured one end of the rigid operating rod 70, the opposite end of which is slidably engaged in the operating sleeve 71 projecting through the opening 72 in the ho y portion of the operating wheel 73 carried on the inner end of the shaft 32. The sleeve 71 has a ball 74 formed on its closed or solid end and this ball 74 is loosely engaged in the socket member 75 secured eccentrically of the wheel 73. It will also be understood that the opening 72 in the wheel 73 is of a somewhat greater diameter than the transverse diameter of the sleeve 71, thereby permitting a limited rocking movement of the ball 74 within the scoket 75 during rotation of the wheel 73. This will result in the raising and lowering of'the tube 63 as well as transverse oscillation thereof when the wheel 73 is rotated with the shaft 32, thereby providing both a reciprocating and oscillating motion for the upper disc 58 of the agitating mechanism. Owing to the side posts 76 carried by the lower disc 54 being extended upwardly therefrom with their upper ends loosely engaged in guide openings 77 provided therefor in the upper disc 58 of the agitator mechanism, the lower disc 54 will be caused to oscillate with the upper disc 58, although the upper disc 58 and the pistons or plungers carried thereby will be reciprocated vertically independently of the lower disc 54.

In order to obtain proper initial adjustment of the discs 54 and 58 with respect to one another, I have provided a lever 88, which may also be termed a cover tilting lever. This lever 88 is pivotally mounted on the supporting standards 90, as shown at 91. The lever 88 has a laterally extended pin 92 in one end which is adapted to be inserted through one of the openings provided in the upper portion of the upper section 49 on the main or central rod so that, by removing the pin 48 and swinging the free end of the lever 88, the main or central rod may be raised or lowered to vary the initial distance between the lower discs 54 and upper discs 58. This will also regulate the stroke and action of the pistons or plungers 61. It will be understood that after insertion of the pins 92 of the lever 98, the pin 48 should be removed and then replaced after proper adjustment of the main,

or central rod by the manipulation of the lever 88, as stated.

By means of the cover tilting lever 88, the cover 35 may be readily swung upwardly and horizontally upon its hinge support 89 at one side of the cover 35 and the upper reduced portion 15 of the main tank 10. The lever 88 is mounted for horizontal and vertical swinging movement on the supporting standard 90, as previously stated. This standard 90 is carried on the upper face of the cover 35, preferably on the side opposite to that which the standards 34 are mounted. After insertion of the pin 92 of the lever 88 through one of the openings provided in the upper portionof the upper section 49 of the main or centralrod, as previously stated, and removal of the pin 48, the main or central rod may be raised sufficiently together with the lower discs 43 and the remainder of the agitator mechanism to clear the upper edge of the main tank 10 as the cover 35 is swung upwardly and outwardly upon its hinge support 89. The lever 88 may be employed for this latter movement or operation as well as for the first mentioned or central rod raising operation. After raising of the main or central rod of the washing machine the outer or free end of the lever 88 may be engaged beneath the latch 93 carried for this purpose on the upper face of the cover 35.

\Vhen it is desired to use this washing machine as a pounding machine, the main or central rod is drawn upwardly until the lower disc 54 engages the upper disc 58 and the lower washers 62 of the pistons or plungers 61 are at the bottom of the tubes 65. It will therefore be seen that when the discs 54 and 58 are engaged in this manner and the main or central rod connected with the understood without further detail description. It may be stated, however, that when the parts are properly adjusted as previously explained, to employ the machine as an agitating washer, the operation of the shaft 32 from the shaft 28 will cause both the vertical reciprocating and the oscillating movement of the disc 58 and operation of the pistons or plungers 61 creating suction in the tubes 55 upon each upward movement of the pistons or plungers 61 and force the water downwardly upon each downward movement of the pistons or plungers 61. The independent vertical movement of the lower disc 54 with the tubes 55 will be limited by the resilient connection between the upper section 49 and the lower section 50 of the main or central rod carrying the lower disc 54. The operation of the agitator mechanism will serve, however, to thoroughly agitate the water within the main or outer tank 1 and cause the circulation of the water through the perforate inner receptacle 21, thereby thoroughly removing the dirt from the clothing and other articles being washed Within the inner perforate receptacle 21.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown and-described, it will be understood that minor changes in the details of construction and arrangement of parts may be resorted to within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invent-ion.

What is claimed is 1. A washing machine comprising a tank, an inner receptacle within said tank, an agitating mechanism within said inner receptacle, said agitating mechanism includ ing upper and lower discs, a supporting rod for said lower disc, said lower disc being adjustable with respect to said upper disc, means for imparting vertically reciprocating and horizontal oscillating movement to said upper disc and connections between said discs to cause oscillation of said lower disc with said upper disc.

2. A washing machine comprising a tank, an inner receptacle within said tank, an agi tating mechanism within said inner receptacle, said agitating mechanism including upper and lower discs,'a supporting rod for said lower disc, said lower disc being adjustable with respect to said upper disc, means for imparting a vertically reciprocating and oscillating movement to said upper disc, and plungers carried by said upper, disc to agitate the contents of the inner receptacle.

3. A washing machine comprising a tank, an inner receptacle within said tank, an agitating mechanism within said inner tank, said agitating mechanism including upper and lower discs, a supporting rod for said lower disc, said lower disc being adjustable with respect to said upper disc, means for imparting a vertically reciprocating and oscillating movement tosaid disc, said upper and lower discs having slid-able connections to cause said discs to oscillate together, tubes depending from openings in said lower disc, and plungers carried by said upper disc and working in said tubes to cause agitation of the contents of said inner receptacle.

4. A washing machine comprising an outer tank, supporting legs for said outer tank, the portions of the legs beneath said tank being offset outwardly, a platform between said legs, a motor mounted on said.

platform, a drive shaft extended vertically of said tank, supporting and bearing means for said shaft, driving connections between said shaft and said motor, an agitating mechanism including a central supporting rod and a surrounding split sleeve, a cover for said tank, said shaft and said split sleeve being extended through. said cover, and means operated by said shaft to. cause a vertically reciprocating and an oscillating movement of said agitating mechanism, said means being connected with the split portion of said sleeve above said cover.

5. A washing machine comprising an outer tank, supporting means for said outer tank, a drive shaft extended vertically of said tank, supporting and bearing means for said shaft, driving connections between said shaft and said motor, an agitating mechanism including a central supporting rod and a surrounding split sleeve, a cover for said tank, said shaft and said split sleeve being extended through said cover, and means opererated by said shaft to cause a vertically reciprocating and an oscillating movement of said agitating mechanism, said means bein connected with the split portion of said sleeve above said cover, said agitating mechanism including upper and lower discs, said central supporting rod having a lower yieldably connected section secured to said lower disc, and extended through said upper disc, said sleeve being connected with said up er disc, slidable connections between said disc to cause uniform oscillation thereof, and

means for varying the initial distance be-- tween said discs.

6. A washing machine comprising an outer tank. an inner perforate receptacle within said tank, supporting means for said outer tank, a cover for said outer tank, said cover being formed of transparent sections and having arcuate guide slots in its central portion an agitating mechanism within said inner receptacle and including a longitudinally split sleeve extended through said arcuate slots of said cover, an upper disc carried by said sleeve, a lower disc beneath said upper disc, a central supporting rod for said lower disc, means for retaining said supporting rod in vertically adjusted position with respect to said sleeve, said rod being extended through the center of said cover, and operating mechanism connected with said longitudinally split sleeve above said cover to cause a combined vertically reciprocating and transversely oscillating movement of said sleeve, said discs being conneoted for uniform oscillating movement together.

7. A washing machine comprising a tank, a perforate receptacle within said tank, supporting means for said tank. a cover for said tank, said cover being formed of transparent sections and having arcuate guide slots in its central ortion, an agitating mechanism within said receptacle and including a longitudinally split sleeve extended through said arcuate slots of said cover, an upper disc carried by said sleeve, a lower disc beneath said upper disc, a central supporting rod for said lower disc, means for retaining said supporting rod in vertically adjusted position with respect to said sleeve, said rod being extended through the center of said cover, and operating mechanism connected with said longitudinally split sleeve above said cover to cause a combined vertically reciprocating and transversely oscillating movement of said sleeve, said discs being connected for uniform oscillating movement together, said lower disc having a limited vertical movement, depending tubes carried by said lower disc, and plungers carried by said upper disc and working in said tubes to agitate the contents of the receptacle.

8. A washing machine comprising an outer tank having a reduced upper portion, a cover for said tank, an inner perforate receptacle Within the outer tank, supporting means for said outer tank, said cover having arcuate guide slots arranged concentrically thereof and a central opening, agitating mechanism including a central rod extended through said central opening, means for supporting said rod in adjusted v'ertical position, bearing means for said rod supporting means, a lower disc carried by said support-- ing rod, said supporting rod being formed of resiliently connected sections, an upper disc for said agitating mechanism arranged parallel to and above said lower disc, said upper disc having a central opening to accommodate the lower section of said supporting rod, slidable connections between said discs, a supporting sleeve for said upper disc, said sleeve having a longitudinally split upper portion extended through the arcuate slots of said cover and adapted to oscillate therein, a collar surrounding the upper split portions of said sleeve, wedge members for retaining said collar in fixed position, and means connected with said collar for causing a combined vertical reciprocating and transversely oscillating movement thereof to operate the agitating mechanism.

9. A washing machine comprising an outer tank, supporting means for said cover for said outer tank, said cover having transparent port-ions and a central portion, said central portion having arcuate slots arranged concentrically therein and a central rod opening, a central rod of an agitating mechanism extended through said central rod opening of said cover, a supporting collar for said rod, an anti-friction mounting for said supporting collar, a lower agitator disc carried by said rod within said inner receptacle, an upper agitator disc, slidable connections between said discs, said rod being extended through said upper disc, a sleeve extended upwardly from said upper disc and enclosing said rod, said sleeve having its upper portion split longitudinally, the split portions of said sleeve being extended through said arcuate slots and adapted to move toward the opposite ends thereof to oscillate the agitating discs, said sleeve being adapted to move vertically to cause vertical reciprocation of said upper disc with respect to said lower disc, means for adjusting the central rod vertically to vary the initial distance between said upper and lower discs. driving connections for said sleeve to cause a combined vertical reciprocation and horizontal oscillation thereof, said lastmentioned means being connected with the upper portions of said sleeve above said cover, and a main driving shaft for said means.

10. A washing machine comprising an outer tank. an inner perforate receptacle within said outer tank, an agitator mechanism within said inner receptacle. and including upper and lower discs normally spaced from one another. said lower discs carrying depending tubes. plungers carried by said upper disc and working in said tubes, means operable to move the discs relatively to each other, and means for locking the discs in their relatively adjusted positions.

11. A washing machine comprising an outer tank. supporting means for said outer tank. a cover hinged upon said outer tank, agitating mechanism adapted to work through said cover and extending into said tank. said agitating mechanism including a sleeve extending through said cover. a collar mounted on said sleeve. wedge members for retaining said collar in fixed position longi- "outer tank, a perforate inner receptacle, a

tudinally of said sleeve, a rigid a-rm extended radially from said collar, a main drive shaft, a transverse drive shaft having connection with said main drive shaft, means for mounting the transverse drive shaft on said cover, a wheel mounted on one end of said transverse drive shaft, a hollow rod extended through said wheel and slidable on said rigid arm, said hollow rod having a limited swinging movement in said ing normally spaced apart, a central rod movable through said closure means and carrying said lower disc, a SlQfcTC of nded upwardly from said upper disc and surrounding said rod, said sleeve having its upper portion extended through said closure means, said cover having arcuate slots to accommodate the portions of the sleeve working therethrough, said lower disc having openings therein, tubes depending from said openings, plungers depending from said upper disc in said tubes, operating mechanism for said agitating mechanism, and a main drive shaft on the tank for said operating mechanism.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FRANK D. BROWN. 

